100 Once in a decade prospect
95-99 Elite talent
90-95 Solid top 10 pick
85-90 Solid first round pick
80-85 Late 1st-early 2nd
75-80 Solid 2nd round pick
70-75 Solid 3rd round pick
65-70 3rd-4th round pick
60-65 4th-5th round pick
55-60 5th round pick
50-55 6th round pick
45-50 7th round pick
40-45 Undrafted, invite to training camp
30-40 Career practice squader
20-30 No NFL future
0-20 No football future
1-25 26-50 51-75 76-100 101-125 126-150 151-175 176-200 201-250 251-300
Go back to 126-150
150. QB Max Hall (BYU) 60
Statistically great with 32 touchdowns to 13 picks this year, but at 6-1 200 he lacks NFL size, and I really didn’t see anything resembling an NFL arm when I watched him this year. He’s smart, but the physical tools aren’t quite there. He’ll be a solid backup.
151. CB Amari Spievey (Iowa) 59
If you’re looking for a cornerback you’ve never heard of that could go in the 2nd rounder, this guy is your guy. Several teams, including reportedly the Falcons, have given him a first round grade, which means we could see him go off the board a lot higher than we expect. He could also fall into the 5th because of the depth of this cornerback class. That’s how deep the class is. I will be fairly conservative with his grade because I think he lacks elite coverage skills.
152. WR Carlton Mitchell (South Florida) 59
4/9/10: Followed up a 4.49 at 6-3 215 at The Combine with a 4.40 on his Pro Day and he also looked to have good hands in the drills. He didn’t produce at an elite level in college, but he’s full of physical upside and merits a look in the 5th. Al Davis is going to have a hard time choosing between him and David Gettis (6-3 216 4.39) in the 3rd/4th round range. Mitchell is better than Gettis though, as he did have 40 catches for 706 yards and 4 catches last year.
Every draft class has it. That wide receiver with amazing athleticism that lacks the production to match it and gets over drafted. Last year we had Darrius Heyward Bey, this year, it could be Carlton Mitchell and his 4.40 speed at 6-3 215. However, because Al Davis doesn’t need receivers, I don’t think he’ll go in the first. The 3rd or 4th makes more sense for him and there’s no denying the upside, but I’ll be conservative with his grade because he never was dominant statistically.
153. G/C Jeff Byers (USC) 59
1/30/10: He’s undersized, but with great form he really held his own against much bigger defensive lineman. He played at center for most of the game, which is not his natural position, but he did a great overall job, which is very good because, due to his small frame, that’s likely the position he’ll have to play at the next level.
A former elite guard prospect who would be a perfect fit for a zone blocking scheme. He only weighs 290 pounds so he won’t fit all schemes and he has a nasty history of injuries, but if he fulfills his potential, he could be the best pure left guard in this draft class. He needs to bulk up though, even to play a zone scheme.
154. MLB Donald Butler (Washington) 59
A very fluidly athletic linebacker who showed his versatility and ability in the Senior Bowl. His tape was a bit inconsistent last year and he won’t fill gaps like necessary in a 3-4, but he could fit anywhere in a 4-3 as a depth linebacker guy, especially as a middle linebacker.
155. S Robert Johnson (Utah) 59
A fluid ball hawking safety who played some cornerback last year. He had 6 picks last year, but his tackling could use some work and he’s not great against the run.
156. RB Keith Toston (Oklahoma State) 59
3/15/10: Normally I don’t pay much attention to improved 40 times, but Totson also lost 8 pounds, from 213 to 205, and as a result of that ran a tenth of a second faster. I like the work ethic and discipline so I’ll move him back up a little.
2/28/10: When he woke up this morning, running a 4.70 at 6-0 213 was probably not on his to do list. That’s pretty ugly.
Finally had a good year this year in his senior season after splitting carries throughout most of his career. He had 1218 yards and 11 touchdowns on a 5.4 average, though it was in Oklahoma State’s weird offense. His 40 time for his size is not expected to be great, but you can’t deny he has produced good numbers and he’s a very good pass catcher with 22 passes caught this season. He’ll fit into a running back rotation somewhere in the NFL, maybe as a pass catching back.
157. DE/RLB Daniel Te’o-Nesheim (Washington) 58
An unknown pass rusher with an unpronounceable name, who has quietly put up 18 sacks over the last 2 years against some good Pac 10 competition. He was a little small before the combine, but bulked up and still managed to shave some time off of his projected time. The elite natural athleticism is not there, but he has the work ethic and the on the field motor to make up for it. He should have a future in the NFL as either a defensive end or a rush linebacker.
158. OT Zane Beadles (Utah) 58
He’s a very smart tackle who has played everything from left tackle to right tackle to guard. He should be able to play both guard positions as well as right tackle at the next level. He projects as a depth right tackle longterm, but he can provide valuable depth at several positions.
159. NT Kade Weston (Georgia) 58
Part of a defensive tackle rotation with Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens, Weston often gets lost among the hype of those two freakish athletes, but Weston, at 325 pounds, has actually been a much more consistent statistical performer for the Bulldogs. In addition to his ability to get into the backfield, which is rare for someone of his size, he also is able to take on two blockers which is a key for a 3-4 nose tackle. He is a tough matchup and someone I am a lot higher on than most places. It’ll be interesting to see if he gets drafted.
160. TE Tony Moeacki (Iowa) 58
Showed occasional flashes of brilliance when fully healthy, for instance in the Orange Bowl this year when he had 84 yards and a brilliant 53 reception that very few tight ends can make. Unfortunately, that rarely happened because of injuries. In his career, he only managed 953 yards on 76 catches for 11 touchdowns because of numerous injuries. You name it, he hurt it, he probably hurt things you didn’t even know were body parts. He could be snagged late as a flier tight end prospect and I think he deserves 5th round recognition as he could be a starting caliber tight end if he stays healthy, but his injury plagued past is a major red flag. Even this year, by far his best season of his career, he only had 30 catches for 387 yards and 4 scores because he missed 3 games.
161. DT Jeff Owens (Georgia) 58
An athletic freak with huge upside and great measurables with 44 reps of 225 pounds and a 4.97 40 at 6-1 304, but the on the field production was not there and the tape isn’t very good despite Georgia’s strong defensive line as a whole. He’s a risk and Al Davis could draft him in the 2nd, but he has some upside.
162. K Garrett Lindholm (Tarleton State) 58
4/9/10: Where is Tarleton State? Who cares! Level of competition doesn’t matter with kickers. If you can kick, you can kick anywhere. Lindholm nailed a 64 yarded last year and then went out on his Pro Day and nailed 3 of 4 from SIXTY PLUS YARDS!!! I normally am against drafting a kicker in the first 5 rounds, but this Sebastian Janikowski clone is an exception. Teams like the Bengals, Ravens, and Falcons, who desperately need kicking help, will consider him in the 5th and make him the first kicker off the board, even before highly hyped Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin.
Normally I don’t give kickers higher than a 6th round grade, because I feel that using a 5th rounder on a kicker who is pretty much going to be completely random and inconsistent anyway is a waste. However, Lindholm is in a class of his own. Don’t be worried by the level of competition. Kickers translate. If you can kick, you can kick anywhere and this guy can kick. He only got 18 attempts last year, but nailed 15 of those, including 7 of 10 from beyond 40 yards. He hit both of his 50+ yarders last year, a 55 yarder and a whooping 64 yarder, and didn’t miss from within 40. At his Pro Day, nailed 3 of out 4 60 yarders with ease and he averaged 63.4 yards per kickoff with 22 touchbacks on 77 tries. Though he was not quite as good as a field goal kicker in 2008, he still did have a 62.9 yards per kickoff average and 25 touchbacks in 64 tries. For my exclusive interview with Lindholm, click here.
163. C John Estes (Hawaii) 58
A mean athletic center built in the mold of former Hawaii center Samson Satele, now with the Oakland Raiders. He has the ability to play guard and is a very physical run blocker in addition to being a smart leader on the offensive line.
164. S Kam Chancellor (Virginia Tech) 58
May have to switch to linebacker because of his 6-3 230 frame. He’ll be a liability in coverage at the next level, but had a very productive college career and has potential as a depth safety, a linebacker, or a special teamer.
165. G Brandon Carter (Texas Tech) 58
3/15/10: This is what I like to see. Ran a poor 5.36 at his Combine, so he lost 10 pounds and then ran a 5.24. A 5.24 at 6-6 319 isn’t overly impressive, and for an offensive lineman 40 times barely matter, but I love the dedication and commitment to football.
By far the craziest guard in the draft class. If it were legal, he’d probably bite off a defensive linemen’s head. He’s a huge run blocker, but I have some concerns about how he’ll transition to a real blocking scheme in the NFL and about his pass blocking and mobility, which he really lacks.
166. QB Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan) 57
1/30/10: I really didn’t like him going into this game, but he proved to me that his arm is a lot stronger than I lot and a lot more accurate on deep balls than I thought. He had a lot of nice deep throws, which surprised me because he comes from an offense that focuses on short throws. His footwork was still bad and he messed up a few easy throws, but he has some potential in the 4th or 5th round.
I really didn’t like what I saw on tape from LeFevour this season at Central Michigan. I thought he was a late round prospect. I thought he lacked a strong arm and his stats came in a scheme that bloats stats. I thought he couldn’t make reads and looked to run far too often. However, he impressed me a little in the Senior Bowl. He showed a stronger arm than I expected and made a few nice pro style throws, though he was very inconsistent. I’m not in love with him like some places are, but he’s a decent project with upside. He’ll probably be over drafted due to hype and need for the quarterback position.
167. CB AJ Jefferson (Fresno State) 57
An athletic freak that caught many people’s eyes at the Combine, including Mike Mayock, who said he could be a 3rd rounder when it’s all said and done. I love his physical upside, 6-0, long arms, 44 inch vertical, a 4.43 40 and I have no doubt that he could be a good cornerback in the league someday, but the key word is could. At the very worst, he’s a #3 or #4 cornerback who can help on special teams. He’s very similar to Antoine Cason.
168. TE Mike Homanawanui (Illinois) 57
1/26/10: He’s being looked at as a big blocker so weighing in at 267 pounds helps his case to get drafted. So do his long arms and hands.
A very big physical blocker who could be looked at in the 5th round by teams needing run blocking tight ends.
169. MLB Reggie Carter (UCLA) 57
A big thumping middle linebacker who seems like a natural fit for a 3-4. Despite his lack of lateral mobility, he still managed 269 tackles in his career at UCLA, but I’m not sure he fits a 3-4 scheme well. He doesn’t have a ton of versatility position wise.
170. DT/3-4 DE Jay Ross (East Carolina) 57
4/2/10: I don’t get this decision. Ross played all of his college career at 315-320 pounds. He played fine and could have been a nose tackle in the NFL and gotten drafted about 2 rounds earlier than if he had not been viewed as a nose tackle prospect. The weigh was not hampering his agility. Yet, he still decided to drop 13 pounds, to 302, which is not nose tackle size. It helped his 40 time, 4.99, but losing the ability to play that coveted position hurts his stock. Instead of 4th round range, he’s looking at 5th or 6th. I drop him from a late 3rd round prospect to a 5th.
Not your average nose tackle, Ross is only 315 pounds, but uses every bit of it to his advantage and uses his hands well. He can also play 4-3 defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end and actually had a pick this season, though a statistic dip from 4.5 sacks last year to 1.5 this year hurt him because of his lack of elite size.
171. RB Deji Karim (Southern Illinois) 56
3/15/10: One thing I do like about Pro Days, watching guys I’ve never heard of. Southern Illinois’ Deji Karim had 1694 yards on a 7.4 YPC and 18 touchdowns last year, albeit for a small school, and then he came out and ran a 4.37 at 5-9 210 and then looked very good in his positional drills. He’s an interesting late round prospect with his combination of size, speed, and production. He also caught 17 passes last year, another plus.
Small school, but big upside because of the big power in his legs. Short and stocky at 5-9 210, but runs with a great low pad level, extremely powerful bulldozing over linebackers and has legit 4.4 speed. He was one of the best rushers in the country last year, albeit at a tiny school against weak competition, but we’ve seen many times in the past, backs from small school go on to do big things on the big stage. If you can run, you can run anywhere and this guy can run. I love his upside.
172. DT D’Anthony Smith (Louisiana Tech) 56
A fairly standard one gap penetrator who can’t play the 3-4, he may get lost among the defensive tackle depth this year because he doesn’t do anything too special.
173. WR Riley Cooper (Florida) 56
A very athletic wide receiver, but what other type does Florida have. He didn’t put it all together until this year when he had 51 catches for 961 yards and 9 touchdowns, so there’s the issue that he’s could be just a one year wonder. He is very similar to Louis Murphy coming out of Florida last year with his measurables.
174. DE/RLB Lindsey Witten (Connecticut) 56
Started off 2009, with a bang, but ended quietly. He lacks the size to be an every down trench rusher at the next level and the tape is really inconsistent on him. There is some upside here, but not a ton.
175. RLB Thaddeus Gibson (Ohio State) 56
4/9/10: Normally I don’t pay much attention to improved 40 times, but I will take notice if there is a significant increase or decrease for someone. Gibson is a 243 pound pass rusher who has to play rush linebacker because of his size, so the 4.71 he ran at The Combine, though not too far off from his projected time of mid to late 4.6, was not good enough for even early Day 3 consideration. Now, after his 4.58 40 time, I can see him more fitting that role as a rush linebacker in the NFL and for that reason, he could be a 5th or even a 4th rounder given the need for athletic fluid rush linebackers to play the 3-4. I do still have some concerns about his ability to switch positions and his production on the field last year wasn’t great. He had have 45 tackles and 13 tackles for loss, but only 4 sacks.
A very raw and unrefined pass rusher, he got into the backfield a lot last year, but only had 4.5 sacks to show for it and he’s severely undersized at just a few ounces above 240 so he’ll have to make the dreaded position switch to rush linebacker from down lineman, which could be dangerous for him because he’s never played anything remotely like the position. The athleticism and fluidity are there though for him to be a decent rush linebacker if he puts it all together.
Go on to 176-200
Football Fan Spot 